Spool



July 3, 1951 A. J. WEISS 2,559,056

SPOOL Filed Jan. 30, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 /7 Jgml.

Z? I! C2 O 24 a 20 7 V V. V

22 \A ARTHUR I WEISS i i 25 J 25 5 I 22 INVENTOR ,4

A. J. WEISS July 3, 195 l- SPOOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 File Jan. 50, 1947 INVENTOR @ARTHUR 1 W055 ATTO NEY July 3, 1951 A. J. WEISS 2,559,056

- SPOOL Filed Jan. 59, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 if v 2 .14

ATT NEY July 3, 1951 A. J. WEISS 2,559,056

I SPOOL Filed Jan. 59, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 g! 5 4 4 40 if INVENTOR ATTO N EY Patented July 3, 1951 UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPOOI:

Arthur J. Weiss,.West; Englewood, N. J., assignor, toRobe tli'Gair Gompany l nc New. York, N. Y., a corporation of. Delaware Application J-anuar-y30, 194 7, Serial No. 725,398-

10,0laims. 1

The invention relates to spools such as used for holding tape, cord, wire, etc.

The spools ordinarily employed are made by. tacking pieces of paperboard to the ends of sticks of wood, the sticks comprisin the body ofthe spool over which the material is to. be wound and thepaperboard comprising the ends or flanges. of the spool. Empty spools of this type, are cumbersome to. pack for shipment and take up considerable space.

It has. been an object of my invention to providea foldin spool. which can be made from a single piece of paperboard without the use of wood sticks.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spool which can. be shipped flat and which is simple to set up for use.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, Fig. 1. is a face view of a blank for forming a spool or reel embodying my invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a view of the upper part of the spool as, formed from the blank of Fig. 1 by folding over and staplin the end pieces thereof, the

spool being in the fiat or knocked down con-- dition, i. e. before it has been set up into finishedspool form for use.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the completed spool as set up for use; and: Fig. 41s a transverse sectional view taken as indicated at 4--4 in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectional views takenas indicated at 5-5 and 6'-6: respectively in Fig. 4:.

- Figs. 7 to 13 inclusive illustrate a modified construction, Fig. 7. being a face view of the blank, and Fig. 8. a. view of the upper part of the spool as formed from the blank of Fig. 7'

by folding over and gluing. the end piecesthereof, the spool being in the flat or knocked down condition, in this respect corresponding to Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a top view of the completed spool as set? up for use.

Fig. 10 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 9 but before the four side extensions have been folded inwardly, illustrating an intermediate step in setting up the spool. (The view is to a smaller scale than Fig. 9.)

Figs. 11 and 12 are transverse sectional. views taken as indicated at l l-| l and l2l2 respec---. tively in Fig. 9. In Fig. 11 one of the side extensions is shown partly folded to illustrate the final setting-up operation.

shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Hence this. view is illustrative of a condition intermediate those.-

Fig- 13 is a longitudinal sectional view taken; as. indicated at |3I3, in Fig. 9.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, my invention comprises in its general. arrangement a folding spool having a body panel I4, extensions. l5: at each side of' the bod panel and ex.- tensions 16 at each end ofthe body panel, outer end pieces I! adjoining the end extensions and attached to the ends of" the body panel M. by means of said end extensions, inner end pieces l8- adjoining the ends of the side extensions t5: and: havin locking projections Is at their ends.

The outer end pieces I! are folded over against the end extensions I6 and secured thereto by suitable means, such as the metal staples 20' (Fig. 2), and the lockin projections |.9 are folded over and secured as by means of the staples 2|- In my preferred construction the inwardly folding side extensions [5 have inner sections 22 arranged to fold at right angles to the bodypanel, the outer sections of the side extensions 15: being arranged to fold into parallel spaced relationship to the body panel M as shownv in Fig. 4'. This construction provides a hollow rectangular shank for the spool so that it can be mounted on a spindle for winding. For this purpose the end pieces ll. have openings 23- through which the spindle passes. They may also have one or more openings 24' to receive lugs associated with the drive mechanism of a winding. machine.

Also in my preferred construction portions of the side extensions [5 adjacent the inner end pieces. I8. are cut out as at 25 to form projections 26 on the inner end pieces. When the spool is set up as shown in Figs. 3. to 5 inclusive, these projections 26- space the side extensions: I 5 from the body panel l4, the lower edges of the projections as viewed in Fig. 4 being brought into abutting relationship to the body panel. The adjacent locking projections l9 enter re.- cesses 21 (Fig. 5) at the ends of the body panel. In the construction illustrated, recesses 21' are provided, between the outer end pieces I! and: end extensions l6 between the staples 20 (of. Figs. 4, 5 and 6). extensions 15. and inner end pieces l8 preferablyare' offset slightly to the inside of score lines 29 betweenthe body panel 14 and end extensions I 6 so as to allow for the extra thickness of locking projections I9: when the spool is set up. as will be understood from: Figs. 5 and 6. However, if desired, the lockin projections is can be omitted; in which case score lines 28 arenot necessarily offset with respect to score lines 29,

Score lines 28 between side'- and end pieces. Since the locking projections l3 and outer end pieces H are to be folded a full 180 about lines 30 and 3|, I prefer to out these inner sections 40 arranged to fold at right angles to the body panel, the outer sections of the side extensions 35 being arranged to fold into parallel spaced relationship to the body panel 34 as shown in Fig. 12. Portions of the side extensions 35 adjacent the inner end pieces 38 are cut out as at 4| to form the locking projections 39 on the inner end pieces 38, heretofore referred to. These locking projections preferably are formed with shoulders 42 so that when the spool is' set up, the

shoulders 42 will be brought into abutting relalines quite deeply into the paperboard stock to facilitate making clean sharp-edged folds. The remaining fold lines 28, 29, 32, 33 may be formed as ordinary scores depressing the paperboard stock from the upper side as viewed in Fig. 1 so as to form grooves on what is to be the inside of the folds.

Formation of the spool in its knocked down form is accomplished by folding the locking projections l9 and outer end pieces ll upwardly, inwardly and downwardly through an angle of 180 and stapling them to the inner end pieces l3 and end extensions l6 respectively as shown in Fig. 2. This is the completed spool ready for shipment. The spool is set up for use by lifting the inner edges of outer end pieces ll until the latter are at approximately right angles to the body panel I4 and likewise lifting the inner edges of the locking projections I9 until they are at approximately right angles to the side extensions I5. Then the side extensions are folded inwardly about the score lines 32 and 33 so that the locking projections l9 come. inside of the outer end pieces H with the ends of the locking projections sliding into the recesses 21 at the ends of the body panel and with the edges of the spacing projections 26 resting against the ends of the body panel. This is the completed spool ready for use.

1 If desired, the outer end pieces IT can be formed with extending locking flaps l'l (Figs; 3 and 5)' cesses 25 in the inwardly folding side extene sions i5." Recesses 25 are conveniently formed as notches at the edges of cut-outs 25 previously described; With this modification, the final step in setting up the spool for use is to fold locking flaps I! over the inner end pieces I8 as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5, projections l'l snapping into recesses 23 to hold the flaps snugly against the inner end pieces.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 7 to 13 inclusive illustrating a modified construction embodying my invention. The general arrangement is the same as in the embodiment previously described, the spool comprising a body panel 34, extensions 35 at each side of the body panel and extensions 36 at each end of the body panel, outer end pieces 3'! adjoining the end extensions and attached tothe ends of the body panel 34 by means of said end extensions, inner end pieces 38 adjoining the ends of the side extensions 35 and having locking projections 39.

The outer end pieces 31 are folded over against the end extensions 36 and secured thereto by suitable means-such as by metal staples or an adhesive; for example, glue may be applied over.

the surface of the end extensions 36 and/or the adjacent section of the end pieces 31 before the latter, are folded over against the extensions.

..The inwardly folding side extensions 35, hav

tionship to the body panel, and so that the portion of each projection 39 which lies between its shoulders 42 and the inner end pieces 38 will serve to space the side extensions from the body panel as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Openings 43 are out in the end extensions 36 and extend for a short distance into the body panel to form recesses 44 at the ends of the body panel.

The locking parts 39 of the projections enter these recesses 44 and lie within the openings 43 in the plane of the end extensions 33 (cf. Figs. 12 and 13). Openings 43 may be shouldered as at 45 for locking engagement with a cut out portion 46 of the projections 39 to hold the spool firmly in its final set up condition. Openings 43 preferably are wider than the locking parts of the projections 39 to permit the latter to pass by the ends of the shoulders 45 when setting up the spool.

As in the case of the embodiment previously described, the spool is formed from a single section of paperboard by cutting a blank of the form shown in Fig. '7. The cut lines and scores likewise may be made as previously described except that in this, modification there are also cut lines at 41 separating the end extensions 36 from the inner end pieces 38.

Formation of the spool in its knocked down form is accomplished by folding the outer vend pieces 31 upwardly; inwardly and downwardly through an angle of and gluing or stapling them to the end extensions 36 as shown in Fig. 8. This is the completed spool ready for shipment. The spool is set up for use by lifting the inner edges of outer end pieces 37 until the latter are at approximately right angles to the body panel 34 and depressing the outer edges of the inner end pieces 38 until they are at approximately right angles to the side extensions 35. The spool will then be inflthe, form shown in Fig. 10. Next the side extensions are folded inwardly in the manner indicated in Fig. 11. The side extension at the left end of this view is in its final position and that at the right hand. is in an intermediate position. After the spacing and locking projections 39 have been brought into' the position shown in Fig. 12 the spool will be completed and ready'for use.

The terms and expressions which I have em-' ployed are used in a descriptive and not a limited sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalents of the invention described, or of portions thereof, as fall within the purview of the claims.

I claim:

1. A folding spool comprising a body panel, end pieces attached to the ends of the body panel, inwardly folding extensions at each side of the body panel, and locking projections at the endsv of said extensions,;said locking projections entering recesses at the ends of the'body panel when the extensions of the body panel arev folded inwardly to hold the end pieces at substantially right angles to the body panel... 1

2. A folding spool formed from a single section of paperboard and comprising a body panel, extensions at each side and each end of the body panel, outer end pieces adjoining the end extensions, said outer end pieces being folded over against the end extensions and secured thereto, and inner end pieces adjoining the ends of the side extensions, said inner end pieces having locking projections folded over and secured, and

the side extensions folding inwardly between said outer end pieces to hold the latter at substantially right angles to the body panel.

3. A folding spool formed from a single section of paperboard and comprising a body panel, extensions at each side and each end of the body panel, outer end pieces adjoining the end extensions, said outer and pieces being folded over against the end extensions and secured thereto, and inner end pieces adjoining the ends of the side extensions, said inner end pieces having locking projections folded over and secured, and the side extensions folding inwardly between said outer end pieces to hold the latter at substantially right angles to the body panel, the locking projections entering recesses formed at the ends of the body panel.

4. A folding spool as defined in claim 1, in which each of the inwardly folding extensions has inner and outer sections, the inner section arranged to fold at right angles to the body panel and the outer section arranged to fold into parallel spaced relationship to the body panel.

5. A folding spool as defined in claim 2, in which portions of the side extensions adjacent the inner end pieces are cut out to form projections of the inner end pieces which space the side extensions from the body panel when the side extensions are folded inwardly between the outer end pieces.

6. A folding spool formed from-a single section of paperboard and comprising a body panel, extensions at each side and each end of the body panel, outer end pieces adjoining the end extensions, and inner end pieces adjoining the ends of the side extensions, said outer end pieces being folded over against the end extensions, and portions of the side extensions adjacent the inner end pieces being cut out to form projections of the inner end pieces which space the side extensions from the body panel when the side extensions are folded inwardly between the outer end pieces.

7. A folding spool comprising a body panel having inwardly folding extensions at each side thereof, outer end pieces attached to the ends of the body panel and inner end pieces attached to the ends of said extensions, the inner end pieces fitting within the outer end pieces to hold the latter at substantially right angles to the body panel, and locking flaps extending from the outer end pieces arranged to fold over the inner end pieces.

8. A folding spool comprising a body panel having inwardly folding extensions at each side thereof, outer end pieces attached to the ends of the body panel and inner end pieces attached to the ends of said extensions, the inner end pieces fitting within the outer end pieces to hold the latter at substantially right angles to the body panel, and locking flaps extending from the outer end pieces arranged to fold over the inner end pieces, said locking flaps having projections for interlocking engagement with said inwardly folding extensions.

9. A folding spool as defined in claim 6, in which part of said projections enter recesses formed at the ends of the body panel.

10. A folding spool formed from a. single section of paperboard and comprising a body panel, extensions at each side and each end of the body panel, and end pieces adjoining the end extensions, said end pieces being folded over against the end extensions and secured thereto, the side extensions folding inwardly between said end pieces to hold the latter at substantially right angles to the body panel, the side extensions havin locking projections at their ends, and the ends of the body panel having cut-out portions to receive said locking projections.

ARTHUR J. WEISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,052,303 Aven Feb. 4, 1913 1,880,809 Clarke Oct. 4, 193 2,306,078 Nydegger Dec. 22, 1942 2,369,958 Fox Feb. 20, 1945 2,477,333 Hawkins July 26, 1949 

